The governor's staff released his new budget proposal this afternoon. You can read more about the details in tomorrow's Free Press (no, I can't give you a link to the future).
The chairwomen of the Legislature's two appropriations committees were also briefed today on the budget.
Distinctly missing from the invitation list, however, were the House speaker and the Senate president pro tem. They are ultimately the people who have to sell any plan to their members, but they weren't there because the governor's staff didn't invite them.
Finance Commissioner Jim Reardon said time constraints prevented a meeting with Speaker Shap Smith and Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, and that the administration's money people usually deal with the Legislature's money people.
Administration Secretary Neale Lunderville said, "We'd be happy to brief legislative leaders."
Interesting decision not to include them in the first conversation.
For those of you who have not witnessed the smoke coming out of the ears, keep in mind that there is not a lot of love, or trust, lost between the governor and Shumlin.
Smith said this afternoon of the lack of invitation, "I'm not going to take to much from it."
- Terri Hallenbeck
Labels: legislature, politics, Vermont
